If you have a fence and no yard space, these hanging pots are the answer! I bought mine from the Lillian Vernon catalogue, but I imagine places like eBay and Amazon have them too. I wish I had taken the picture after they were all planted, but you get the idea. These pots were all yellow when I got them and I spray painted them. They all have drain holes, but I choose to just put pots into them.

Have you seen the pouches at the gardening centers that have small opening in them and appear to be made from heavy plastic? You plant flowers in the openings and when it gets filled out you have a virtual waterfall of plants.

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I made some of these that look exactly like them. They are made from tarps. I sewed them on my sewing machine. I used the grommet to attach my handle, but you could sew it on as well. They are approximately 17 inches high and 7 inches across. You can square off the bottom if you wish (like it is on a brown paper bag). By making your own, you can make it the size you want and put in as many plants as you wish. These are shown with no cuts because I am trying to decide what plants to put in. But to make the openings, just take a utility knife and make an X for the openings.

I grew up on a small farm where we raised practically everything we ate. I've always liked to have some fresh produce growing somewhere. We have downsized to our retirement home and try as I might, I haven't been able to find a suitable place to plant very much of a "Victory Garden."

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Yesterday as I was cleaning up around outside, I saw my window boxes which I had taken down for the winter. My frugal, farm girl mind kicked in with this idea. Instead of spending money on the annuals I usually fill them with, I'm going to plant vegetable seeds for plants which will thrive in that kind of container. I've already bought radish, lettuce, and chive seeds (three packs for $1.00!). Since I'll be able to bring them inside at night if the temperature drops, I'm going to get those started right away.

I'm also planning to plant some cucumbers in them because they will be pretty, trailing over the sides. Tomato and pepper plants can be tucked into spots between shrubbery in the back yard. I will again plant potatoes in my very large round pots. Last year I cut the eyes off some potatoes that had sprouted in my vegetable bin, planted them in a big pot and had a nice crop from something I would have just put into the garbage disposer. My grandchildren had a virtual treasure hunt digging them out.

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I'm so excited about this project and can't wait to get started. I was going to wait to submit this idea after I had the boxes full and growing and could submit a photo, but I wanted it to be published in time for others to do the same if they like the idea. Why pay for and plant those annual ornamental vines when you can plant something fresh and edible?

Short on space? Want to grow herbs or salad foods? Then grow food upwards! Yep, this season I have done this using recycled materials and here's how. I used parts of a pallet (wooden slated base which building products are delivered on in the UK) to make a rectangular frame, secured in the corners with screws to provide some strength.